Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig)

Ficus pumila, the Creeping Fig, is one of the most widely used background-covering plants in paludarium and vivarium builds, prized for its ability to completely carpet vertical surfaces with a dense mat of tiny, heart-shaped leaves using adhesive aerial rootlets that grip any textured surface. It grows remarkably quickly in warm humid conditions and requires almost no substrate, instead drawing moisture and nutrients through its aerial roots from any surface it colonises.

In paludariums it is typically planted at the base of a cork bark or foam background panel and trained upward, eventually covering the entire back wall in a lush green tapestry within a few months. It tolerates moderate shade, making it suitable for the lower portions of backgrounds that receive less light. Occasional trimming prevents it from smothering other plants, and the trimmings propagate instantly.

Light: Medium indirect; 1,000–3,000 lux; tolerates lower light on lower background areas. CO2/Humidity: No CO2; humidity above 60%; thrives in high-humidity conditions of enclosed paludariums. Fertilisation: Monthly dilute all-purpose fertiliser misted directly onto the background surface where it is growing. Placement: Plant at the base of the background panel; train stems upward and they will self-attach via adhesive rootlets. Propagation: Stem cuttings with nodes pressed against a moist surface will self-root within 1–2 weeks.